Chief Maloney: Honor. Remember. Support.

A year has now passed since the bucolic image of Greenland was shattered in a murderous rampage.

A year has now passed since the bucolic image of Greenland was shattered in a murderous rampage.

On this night, one year ago, Police Chief Michael Maloney lost his life. A wife and children lost a husband and father. Our community lost a true friend. Maloney was killed in the line of duty, serving to help keep safe a little town usually referred to as sleepy. He died just eight days before he was scheduled to retire. Four other officers of the N.H. Attorney General's Drug Task Force were seriously wounded as well.

It was simply an unspeakable tragedy.

It would be easy to rehash and condemn the nefarious acts of the shooter in this space, because the pain of this senseless act still burns not far below the surface. But we choose instead to honor a police chief's sacrifice.

Taken from us all that night was the very thing that led Maloney and the other officers into harm's way: our sense of security. Maloney was killed while serving and protecting us. While we could not protect Maloney that night we can serve him now by assuring his legacy.

The story of Michael Maloney, a year ago and today, is not about his death, but instead his life. His life as a loving husband, father and friend. It's about his commitment as an officer of the law to keep us safe. This is a story that is still being written, but it is very much a tale of perseverance. It is marked by courage and pride and dedication that the heinous acts of April 12, 2012, would not define the life of Michael Maloney and would not define the town of Greenland.

Story after story that unfolded following that night were of love and compassion, and of a community that refused to let our innocence die. We would instead come together to heal our collective wounds, to proudly show our faith in community.

Despite how deeply we were wounded, despite how permanently affected the family of Michael Maloney was, we would not let tragedy define our existence.

The spirit of Michael Maloney, so beloved by so many, will live on indefinitely. The motto for the Chief Michael Maloney Memorial Fund says it best: Honor. Remember. Support.

We shall never forget Chief Maloney.

The Maloney fund's mission is "to provide relief for the distressed members, spouses and children of New England Public Safety members who have been killed or injured in the line of duty. Such relief may take the form of direct financial assistance to the victim or victim's survivors, including but not limited to, educational and vocational assistance." Other aspects include scholarships to students and grants to Seacoast public safety agencies for equipment and training purposes.

People will be helped by the generosity of many who support the Maloney fund and its mission. Those people share the message that community and good will continue to rise out of tragedy.

April 12, 2012, reminds us in painful honesty that there are bad people willing to do bad things. Ultimately, though, in the aftermath, we were reminded in joyous honesty that there are far more good people willing to do good things. As this first anniversary passes, we are reminded of the bad, but more importantly of the good. We are reminded of the love we share as individuals who make up our community.

And we are reminded to be grateful that Michael Maloney, through his legacy, continues to serve and protect us.

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